PM Manmohan Singh's press meet: Highlights

New Delhi: Ahead of the Budget session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh interacted with editors of TV channels today. Here are the major highlights of the interaction:

• PM: Making efforts to ensure next session of Parliament will be orderly

• PM: We are a functioning govt, not right say we have lame duck PM

• PM: Talks have begun with ULFA, situation in J&K better

• PM: Economy in good shape, growth rate at 8.5% this fiscal year

• PM: We are not a scam driven country

• PM: Media playing a positive role

• PM: Govt dead serious to bring to book all offenders

• PM: Food inflation is a problem

• PM: Growth rhythm must not be disturbed in dealing with inflation

• PM: Prepared to deal with terror acts, Govt deserves some credit

• PM: Should not create a situation such that the country loses its self confidence

• PM: Internal security has been a worry

• PM: Govt deserves some credit

• PM: Media has drawn attention to 2G, CWG, Adarsh scams

• PM:  Media playing positive role

• PM : There are difficulties when Parliament is not functioning

• PM: Cannot divulge what went on in the process of cabinet formation

• PM: Corruption in any walk of life is a matter of grave concern

• PM: Believe Congress party has good chance to return to power in Kerala

• PM: At the time of Cabinet formation, thought Raja did nothing wrong

• PM: Told Raja to look into many issues

• PM: I wrote to Raja on Nov 2 2007, asked him to ensure fair play

• PM: Raja wrote to me and assured transparency

• PM: Auction not suggested by TRAI

• PM: Thought Raja was innocent at the time of Cabinet formation

• PM: Nation has to rethink how our Parliamentary institutions function

• PM: I am not afraid of appearing before any committee

• PM: Not afraid to appear before any committee including JPC

• PM : Raja was nominated by the leader of his party

• PM: In a coalition govt everything is not in my control

• PM: Raja said auction would not give level playing field to all players

• PM: Finance ministry, DoT agreed on existing 2G pricing

• PM: First-come-first-serve policy not referred to me

• PM: Raja was continuing with prevailing practice

• PM : Never thought of resigning, will stay the full course

• PM: We are a functioning govt, not right to say I am a lame duck PM

• PM: Too premature to speculate on next term, have to finish this term

• PM: Nobody should think I don't know my responsibilities

• PM: Compulsions in coalition politics, need to compromise

• PM: No backroom talks in ISRO-Devas deal, decision to scrap deal on 2 July

• PM: Meetings did take place after July, but no further action by govt

• PM: Difficult to assess 2G losses; no auction held, so no starting point

• PM: Can't deny need to improve quality of governance

• PM: I've made mistakes, but I'm not as big a culprit as made out to be